UConn to the Big East?

[BUConn10]

Sure, except where reality is reality, and in reality the Big East isn't in the P5, so when the split happens they're regardless of how many articles say they're in the P5.

The big east is still a great conference, and as it stands the perception of their strength as a conference may very well indeed be greater than the numbers show, but at the end of the day the committee will more closely resemble the public perceptions opinion of what "strength" is in terms of conferences and ranking resumes.

This same concept works against UConn in the rankings and tournament seeding but due to the weak perception of the American. Last year before the AAC tournament then numbers largely showed us as an at-large bid, but when the press started gearing up for the conference tournament season, the narrative shifted that UConn needed to win a game or two in the AACT just to have a shot at dancing, and I still think our seeding that year was far lower than where our resume deserved to be.

As for the Big east splitting who knows, personally I think it's wishful thinking by those who are anti-NCAA, I don't think it's a realistic course of events. I think everyone who "matters" is eating plenty well right now and these things have so many moving parts.

My opinion is that UConn needs D1 football to maintain that perception as a "real" athletic program, no matter how poor the current perception of the football program may be. But I will say this UConn's potential ceiling for football success while residing in the AAC is maybe a very limited due to the cultural and geographic restrictions that are just a part of college football, but our ceiling in basketball is HEAVILY capped by the AAC. We need to weigh the options and decide if a slightly greater growth potential in football in the AAC will pay off (P5) at the expense of our future potential in the sport that we know to be king here.

 

[BUConn10]

Well that's deep. If you believe the perception of casual basketball fans in southwestern Florida has any effect on UCONN basketball's reality I'm not sure what to say.

It's like some of you have this bizarre inferiority complex where you care so much about what people that don't matter think. Win games, that's all that matters because wins and losses are reality. No matter what you believe, fans all over the country have no power over that either way.

You act like perceptions of programs only applies to the "casual fan in southeast Florida". University ADs and President's harbor the same perceptions as the constituents they represent. When it comes down to deciding who to take in expansion these opinions hold heavy weight, we have seen it multiple times now in missed expansion opportunities. Obviously they look at numbers but then numbers have always shown UConn as P5 worthy, yet here we are 5 years later still in this *hole. At what point will you accept that maybe others with influence simply don't value what you perceive as UConn's strengths as much you do.

 

[7774]

The big east is still a great conference, and as it stands the perception of their strength as a conference may very well indeed be greater than the numbers show, but at the end of the day the committee will more closely resemble the public perceptions opinion of what "strength" is in terms of conferences and ranking resumes.

This same concept works against UConn in the rankings and tournament seeding but due to the weak perception of the American. Last year before the AAC tournament then numbers largely showed us as an at-large bid, but when the press started gearing up for the conference tournament season, the narrative shifted that UConn needed to win a game or two in the AACT just to have a shot at dancing, and I still think our seeding that year was far lower than where our resume deserved to be.

The committee doesn't even look at conference or public perception. They just evaluate every team's total body of work, based mainly upon RPI metrics. Our resume going into the tournament last year was an RPI of 32, or the last 8 seed. We got a 9. Our seed wasn't remotely far lower than where our resume deserved to be.

 

[BUConn10]

The committee doesn't even look at conference or public perception. They just evaluate every team's total body of work, based mainly upon RPI metrics. Our resume going into the tournament last year was an RPI of 32, or the last 8 seed. We got a 9. Our seed wasn't remotely far lower than where our resume deserved to be.

When you are evaluating 68 of the best teams in the country, with resumes that are largely similar and subjective, personal opinions of strength can make a difference between a 9 seed or a 6 seed.

 

[huskyrob1]

Yes the UConn women do spend more than other competitors. See link below. UConn pays more because UConn cares about women's basketball. It is our premier program. Just like Alabama in football or Kentucky in men's basketball. But hey, don't let the facts get in the way of your argument.

The best paid women's coach is a man - UConn's Geno Auriemma

Can a smaller program succeed like a Butler or Gonzaga in basketball? Sure but the odds of consistently outperforming the marque P5 programs are stacked against them. Jay Wright may be the best coach in Men's basketball and if a P5 program doubles what Nova pays him he may take it. Money increases the chance of success. "Always" isn't the standard..

That's just the coaches salary, womens programs like Kentucky and Texas lost more than Geno made in the calendar year, and they still suck. On UCONN, did the big money come first or did Geno? As I recall, John Toner hired him in a Dunkin Donuts for less than I make now. Even now, if the AD asked Geno to take a pay cut to help build a new football stadium, what do you think he would say? You guys have no clue.

 

[7774]

When you are evaluating 68 of the best teams in the country, with resumes that are largely similar and subjective, personal opinions of strength can make a difference between a 9 seed or a 6 seed.

Hey, it's some more ridiculously hilarious made up stuff, following all the made up stuff about the conference impacting UConn's seed in the last post. Quite a surprise.

 

[BUConn10]

Hey, it's some more ridiculously hilarious made up stuff, following all the made up stuff about the conference impacting UConn's seed in the last post. Quite a surprise.

Can you ever be part of a discussion without turning doing your usual thing of quickly devolving into a massive doosh when you run out of points to make? This isnt a math problem, there isnt just one single obvious answer, both of us are basing our point on various arguments and obviously some based on conjecture. If you think NCAA seeding consists of just entering all the scores and schedules for the season and a computer spitting out seeds 1-68 then I'd say you are the one who needs to re-evaluate you're entire argument.

 

[7774]

Can you ever be part of a discussion without turning doing your usual thing of quickly devolving into a massive doosh when you run out of points to make? This isnt a math problem, there isnt just one single obvious answer, both of us are basing our point on various arguments and obviously some based on conjecture. If you think NCAA seeding consists of just entering all the scores and schedules for the season and a computer spitting out seeds 1-68 then I'd say you are the one who needs to re-evaluate you're entire argument.

The problem is in order for this to be an actual discussion, you'd have to stop making things up. You say I've run out of points to make, but the only relevant point here is that you keep making things up.

When you make a comment like this:

I still think our seeding that year was far lower than where our resume deserved to be.

There's not a discussion to be had, beyond stating that a quick look at the most basic metrics will tell you it's factually false.

Or a comment like this:

personal opinions of strength can make a difference between a 9 seed or a 6 seed.

What's to discuss? It's a kooky conspiracy theory based again, on zero facts.

 

[NewEnglandCB]

We have been in the AAC for four years now and not much have change conference wise. Our future looks dark and ugly right now. I'm tired of waiting for a P-5 conference. If the ACC or Big 10 really wanted us they would have taken us already. I miss the old Big East and if the BE welcome us back then I would take the invitation.

I would love to resume playing against Villanova, Georgetown, St. John's, Seton Hall, and yes...even Providence. Marquette has a bright future. Xavier, Butler, and Creighton have proved to be great additions in the BE. DePaul?....not much can be said about them. BE teams are still a better option than most of the ACC teams. I miss driving down to NY, PA, and RI.

Believe it or not our brand is fading slowly. If BE is willing accept us then I would take it. Hell I would deal with the PC trolls again if that is what it takes. Honestly I think they are funny....sometimes. I know there are PC fans out there that actually miss us. Same goes for Gtown Fans.

 

[BUConn10]

Facts are things like me saying "we were 32 in the RPI on Selection Sunday and got a 9 seed". See, it's not my opinion that we were 32 in the RPI, it says we were number 32 on the official report that the selection committee uses in their process. You can actually go out to the NCAA website and see all the documents the selection committee uses in their process, and the information contained in those documents is what normal thinking people call facts.

Feel free to continue thinking a group of people conspired to drop us a couple of seed lines because we play in the AAC though.

Why are you blowing this out of proportion? Probably in an attempt to make others look dumb to prop yourself up, your usual MO. I never said it's a conspiracy, I'm saying that when a group of resumes are in a similar tier, a P5 team will likely get the nod over a G5 team all other things being equal. Whether it be a perceived greater strength of schedule playing P5 teams or the usual name brands that always seem to be seeded above their record (Duke, MSU) there are advantages presented to power teams that aren't explicitly written on the documents on the NCAA website. 8 pages of conversation and this is what you chose to blow your load over.

 

[7774]

Why are you blowing this out of proportion? Probably in an attempt to make others look dumb to prop yourself up, your usual MO. I never said it's a conspiracy, I'm saying that when a group of resumes are in a similar tier, a P5 team will likely get the nod over a G5 team all other things being equal. Whether it be a perceived greater strength of schedule playing P5 teams or the usual name brands that always seem to be seeded above their record (Duke, MSU) there are advantages presented to power teams that aren't explicitly written on the documents on the NCAA website. 8 pages of conversation and this is what you chose to blow your load over.

You just asked me to provide my facts multiple times in your last post, so I did. Nothing is getting blown out of proportion.

You exist on an amazing level of stupid.

 

[BUConn10]

You just asked me to provide my facts multiple times in your last post, so I did. Nothing is getting blown out of proportion.

You exist on an amazing level of stupid.

You are easily one of the most unpleasant people I've ever had to interact with through a text-only medium.

 

[7774]

You are easily one of the most unpleasant people I've ever had to interact with through a text-only medium.

Yes, I'm sure it's frustrating to deal with someone who sheds light on some of your ridiculous comments and can back up his thoughts with actual facts and reason.

 

[BUConn10]

Yes, I'm sure it's frustrating to deal with someone who sheds light on some of your ridiculous comments and can back up his thoughts with actual facts and reason.

LMAO, you are a broken record, you're only contribution here has been repeatedly reminding us how smart you are, thanks dude. Also I'm sure your facts will support the idea that no AAC team will ever get snubbed come selection Sunday, it's statistically impossible according to facts.

 

[BUConn10]

Yes, I'm sure it's frustrating to deal with someone who sheds light on some of your ridiculous comments and can back up his thoughts with actual facts and reason.

Here's a podcast discussing your reasoning that the NCAA's seeding is purely based on these "facts" you refer to: Podcenter - ESPN

And let me save you the trouble of replying, Cowherd is an idiot and lucky to be half as smart as you.

 

[shizzle787]

Here's a podcast discussing your reasoning that the NCAA's seeding is purely based on these "facts" you refer to: Podcenter - ESPN

And let me save you the trouble of replying, Cowherd is an idiot and lucky to be half as smart as you.

Interesting listen, and I absolutely agree that if UConn is 26-8 in the NBE vs. 26-8 in the AAC, they are getting a higher seed if they play in the NBE. It was a joke that Louisville was a 4 and we were a 7 in 2014.

 

[intlzncster]

This thread is a tennis match.

 

[BUConn10]

Interesting listen, and I absolutely agree that if UConn is 26-8 in the NBE vs. 26-8 in the AAC, they are getting a higher seed if they play in the NBE. It was a joke that Louisville was a 4 and we were a 7 in 2014.

Refer to the facts above please.

 

[shizzle787]

Refer to the facts above please.

I made my own alternative facts.

 

[7774]

Here's a podcast discussing your reasoning that the NCAA's seeding is purely based on these "facts" you refer to: Podcenter - ESPN

And let me save you the trouble of replying, Cowherd is an idiot and lucky to be half as smart as you.

I listened to that. There's not a single comment regarding teams from lesser conferences getting their seeds lowered because of the conference in which they play, so I'm not sure what your point is. All he talked about was the normal logistical challenges that force the committee to move teams off their original seed line.

You still think we got a lower seed than we deserved last year because of the conference we played in right? Because maybe you've forgotten, but that was your original statement. So instead of the rest of this, just explain to me what the committee was ignoring that caused us to get a lower seed than we deserved.

 

[7774]

Refer to the facts above please.

Well no kidding, obviously all other things being equal if we had the exact same record playing in a better conference we'd get a better seed. We'd have a better RPI, more top 50 wins, more top 100 wins, less bad losses. All the metrics the committee looks at would be more favorable. They wouldn't be giving us a better seed because we're in the BE vs. the AAC, they would be giving us a better seed because our profile would be better.

 

[Beaner]

You show me a perineal power program and I'll show you a program that spends in that sport.

I loved the entire content of your post, but this grabbed my eye and poked my sophomoric side. I know it was a spellcheck mishap, but it still made me snicker.

 

[UConnfan8]

Well no kidding, obviously all other things being equal if we had the exact same record playing in a better conference we'd get a better seed. We'd have a better RPI, more top 50 wins, more top 100 wins, less bad losses. All the metrics the committee looks at would be more favorable. They wouldn't be giving us a better seed because we're in the BE vs. the AAC, they would be giving us a better seed because our profile would be better.

But that's the point........we would have a better profile playing NBE teams year in and year out then AAC teams.....

 

[A10 fan]

But that's the point..we would have a better profile playing NBE teams year in and year out then AAC teams....

But what would the record have been last year playing a BE schedule? UConn could then be Georgetown, which didn't make the dance last year, and has no chance of making it this year. Their brand is fading every bit as much as UConn's, if not more, despite being in the BE. Those wins UConn got vs ECU, and Tulane, would likely have been losses to Xavier, Butler, etc.
It's ironic how, with exception of Villanova, the BE is now dominated by Midwestern schools. The Great Midwest has been reborn.

 

[mauconnfan]

But what would the record have been last year playing a BE schedule? UConn could then be Georgetown, which didn't make the dance last year, and has no chance of making it this year. Their brand is fading every bit as much as UConn's, if not more, despite being in the BE. Those wins UConn got vs ECU, and Tulane, would likely have been losses to Xavier, Butler, etc.
It's ironic how, with exception of Villanova, the BE is now dominated by Midwestern schools. The Great Midwest has been reborn.

A10 fan talking of UConn brand fading, as much as GTown. Let me know how many NC's those midwestern schools have and I believe that number would be about the same as ECU and Tulane. Xavier never wins a big game and the last time UConn played the best team from that league they kicked the crap out of them in the NCAA tourney and if fading is 3 years ago then you have a different idea on that term.

Ridiculous post but then again you are an A10 fan, what would you know of brands?

 

[7774]

But that's the point..we would have a better profile playing NBE teams year in and year out then AAC teams....

It's true in the make believe world where the same team can play in a harder conference and end up with an identical record, but in reality that team will end up with a worse record the huge majority of the time, and those additional losses will offset a lot of the benefits of the harder schedule.

We wouldn't be in better shape for the tournament this year if we had played all our conference games against Cincinnati and SMU. Our strength of schedule would be better, but we'd probably have a conference record somewhere in the 1-10/2-9/3-8 range, which is getting us nowhere.

 

[A10 fan]

A10 fan talking of UConn brand fading, as much as GTown. Let me know how many NC's those midwestern schools have and I believe that number would be about the same as ECU and Tulane. Xavier never wins a big game and the last time UConn played the best team from that league they kicked the crap out of them in the NCAA tourney and if fading is 3 years ago then you have a different idea on that term.

Ridiculous post but then again you are an A10 fan, what would you know of brands?

Hey, I'm not one who really thinks the UConn brand is fading, but I see that all the time on this board. You trash those Midwest teams, but if you think they're trash, why would you want to be in a league where with the exception of Villanova, they are the power teams?

Personally, my opinion is that eventually, the P5 schools will make a move to go their own way, or at the very least, set things up where it will be very difficult for non P5 schools to compete. Before this happens, there will be one more round of changes in the P5. UConn needs to set itself up to be included in these changes. That won't happen if they kick football to the curb. The idea that the AAC would allow UConn to be a football only member strikes me as a pipe dream. If Cincy can maintain their basketball status while in the purgatory of the AAC, there is no reason why a superior program like UConn can't. The nightmare scenario would be for UConn to kick football away, and 6-7 years from now, see Cincy admitted to the big boys club without them.

 

[A10 fan]

It's true in the make believe world where the same team can play in a harder conference and end up with an identical record, but in reality that team will end up with a worse record the huge majority of the time, and those additional losses will offset a lot of the benefits of the harder schedule.

We wouldn't be in better shape for the tournament this year if we had played all our conference games against Cincinnati and SMU. Our strength of schedule would be better, but we'd probably have a conference record somewhere in the 1-10/2-9/3-8 range, which is getting us nowhere.

You're making too much sense.

 

[dwalks93]

Personally, my opinion is that eventually, the P5 schools will make a move to go their own way, or at the very least, set things up where it will be very difficult for non P5 schools to compete. Before this happens, there will be one more round of changes in the P5. UConn needs to set itself up to be included in these changes. That won't happen if they kick football to the curb.

This is a really well thought out post. ^^^^^^

You've just got to recognize there is a small faction of the BY who is only concerned about UConn men's basketball. And, by "concerned" I mean what will help the UConn men's basketball program right now and which teams/games would the fans prefer to go see.

The problem with separating out the programs (men's basketball versus women's basketball versus men's football versus the rest of the UConn sports) is their individual short term best interests do not always coincide with the long term interests of the entire UConn AD.

The best place for UConn is to be in the P5 (this ain't a new concept). That is the only truly positive future for UConn athletics. There is still probably one more realignment wave coming...UConn needs to do everything to position itself for inclusion and that means making football a priority in the best G5 football league, the AAC. My first love is UConn men's basketball but I understand it is football that will decide UConn's athletic fate.

We may hate the AAC but there is a very strong likelihood the next P5 program will come out of the AAC. UConn men's basketball may be better served in the new BE next year but what about in 10 years? I know there are some posters who would say "I don't care about anything other than men's basketball so let's move to the new BE" but for those of us who cheer for all of UConn's sports, perseverance and improvement in the AAC are the best of the bad options.

We can't quit on the P5 till we know it is over....moving to the new BE is quitting on the P5.

 

[don356]

The difference perceived in bball between the current Big (midwest) East and where Uconn is at in the AAC is being evaluated and judged a little to in the moment. Really the BE has 4 solid teams to get into the tourney right now with a couple(shall and mq) who are on the fringe. Honestly i don't think either one of those 2 belongs once it's all over. Cincy and Smu are in, and if not for a down year Uconn is also typically a lock. Memphis, Temple also typically are in or close by for tourney consideration. The question really become will the Florida schools ever come around, and from a recruiting standpoint with facilities etc. you have to think they have potential. They key is that Ollie with a healthy team is the man. If he struggles the next couple years, i don't think it's because of the league affiliation. There's plenty of talent to go around. You had to adapt to where you are at regardless.